Darren Bent questions Liverpool’s decision to land Alexis Mac Allister
Former England international Darren Bent has expressed doubts about the potential success of Alexis Mac Allister at Liverpool. The Argentine international joined the Reds not more than a week ago and marked the beginning of a long pending midfield overhaul at Anfield.
Bent acknowledged Mac Allister’s skill and ability but questioned whether he had the necessary speed and athleticism to thrive in Liverpool’s midfield. He emphasized the importance of pace in Liverpool’s past successes, citing players like Gini Wijnaldum who provided energy and dynamism in the middle of the park. Bent, speaking to talkSPORT via ECHO said this:
“Is he what you (Liverpool) need though? Don’t get me wrong, I like him. I think he’s very good. He can’t run. What’s Liverpool’s midfield problem? You’ve got no legs.
“Don’t get me wrong, he’s an unbelievable midfield player but when I think of Liverpool in the past and what made you so successful, there are people like Wijnaldum that was rattling around like pace, pace, pace in the middle of the park.”
Liverpool’s midfield has been a key component of their style of play under Klopp, with high-intensity pressing and quick transitions being vital to their success. Bent believes that Alexis Mac Allister and his lack of pace could be a hindrance to the team’s overall performance.
While Bent acknowledged the Argentine’s qualities as an “unbelievable midfield player,” he raised valid concerns about Liverpool’s need for players with greater athleticism.
Mac Allister a good fit for Liverpool?
However, it is worth noting that the player is pretty much, a like-to-like replacement for someone like Thiago, whose time at Merseyside remains filled with injury issues. Have no doubts over the player’s quality as he is world-class almost every game, but the lack of availability has hurt the Reds far more significantly than one could imagine.
Ultimately, time will tell whether Mac Allister can adapt and thrive at Liverpool. Klopp and his coaching staff have a reputation for maximizing the potential of their players, and they may have a plan in place to integrate Mac Allister into the squad successfully.
Liverpool fans will be eager to see how Mac Allister performs in preseason and competitive matches. His technical ability and footballing intelligence could prove valuable assets, even if he lacks the outright pace that Bent believes Liverpool needs in their midfield.
The acquisition of Mac Allister signals Klopp’s continued focus on refreshing and strengthening the squad ahead of the new season.
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Liverpool’s midfield dynamics will undoubtedly evolve, and it will be fascinating to see how Mac Allister fits into Klopp’s vision for the team’s future success. While there may be some truth in Bent’s analysis, the Reds will anyway sign other players to address different issues.
